Abby's

Volume 5 Issue 4

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Mama hormones can also get in the way. New moms experience a decline in testosterone, dimming the sex drive pilot light, and prolac n – the amazing breas eeding hormone – decreases arousal. Some say this diminished sex drive is a sort of biological trick of nature that protects women from ge ng pregnant too soon a er a baby is born, thus ensuring that baby will be breas ed and cared for nutri onally. If we're not having sex, we won't get pregnant! On top of it, our stress hormones are primed for baby survival mode. If you've no ced that you sleep with "one eye open" – always ready to respond to baby's needs, it's because you are! And those very stress hormones can also decrease your sex drive. If you're all about the family bed – you've got a whole other problem – where to have sex if your li le one is already hogging up the space! Get crea ve – I've known couples who have used every other room in the house – and even the car on the way home from a date! Finally, new moms are par cularly vulnerable to hypothyroidism in the first months to even a year a er birth, and this has a huge impact on sex drive. If you are also feeling other symptoms than low libido such as cold hands and feet, cons pa on, relentless fa gue, or dry skin, it's a good idea to get your thyroid hormone levels checked. Postpartum depression may also interfere with sex drive for many new moms; it can happen any me in the first year a er birth, and is generally under-diagnosed. Nourishing Yourself Make sure you are ge ng adequate sleep by taking turns with your partner ge ng up with baby, taking naps during the day when baby sleeps and, if needed, have a baby si er for a couple of hours 2-3 mes a week so you can rest. If you're exhausted, you won't want to do anything but sleep. And your mood will be miserable if you don't. Make sure to take some "alone me" on a regular basis. Take it from me as a mom with 4 kids, this can be really, tough to make yourself do, but you've got to! If you are feeling touched out by baby, and have had no me to just be a whole adult woman, it's unlikely for you to have any energy le to give to or engage with someone else. Sex is likely the last thing you want. Taking me alone will restore you and allow you to feel full enough to share yourself with your partner. Start to get some exercise and move your body on a regular basis as soon as you can a er birth – even if it's just taking a long walk every day. It does take some work to get back into shape. More importantly, exercise triggers endorphins which give you a natural high and, also, helps clear stress hormones out of your system. It's a win-win that will bring you closer to feeling great about your post-baby body! Be pa ent with and loving toward your body. Find yourself one beau ful new something to wear – a 'sorta,' sexy dress or silky bathrobe. It's okay if it's an interim size un l you fit back into your regular clothes. This will put a li le li in your own sense of feeling sexy, rather than trying to squeeze into your old clothes or being stuck in your 'pregger' duds. Nutrition, Herbs, and Supplements Ea ng well is super important. Your body needs adequate protein not only to heal from the work of birth, but to keep your amino acids and thus relaxa on neurotransmi ers in p-top amounts to overcome sleep deficits and stress that use them up quickly. Magnesium and B-vitamins are food for your nervous system and are abundant in whole grains, nuts, and some vegetables. Ea ng dark green leafies such as kale, collards, and broccoli help your body to properly metabolize hormones. And essen al fa y acids (found in fish, fish oils, good quality fats such as avocados and olive oil) are important for your mental and emo onal health. Here is a selec on of herbs and supplements, to be taken daily, in combina on that can indirectly boost your sex drive by suppor ng and restoring your nervous system, balancing hormones, and gently building energy without the use of s mulants. – Magnesium (either citrate or glycinate) up to 150-400 mg/day. (Note: Magnesium citrate can cause loose stools so is a good choice if you are cons pated. Start with the lowest dose and Page 30 | Abby's Magazine - www.AbbysHealthAndNutrition.com

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